Clean your window screens as part of routine summer home maintenance

Clean your window screens as part of routine summer maintenance

Window screen maintenance tips and advice

Oftentimes overlooked during yearly maintenance, window screens need regular cleaning and care. Gettum Associate Inc, Indianapolis home experts recommend removing and cleaning window screens every year for maximum performance in the home.

Window screens are generally made of fiberglass or aluminum mesh and require proper maintenance to allow for maximum airflow into the home and prevent insects from getting in the house.

Window screen cleaning tips:

To clean window screens, remove the screens from the window frame, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Place the screens on a flat surface (such as the driveway) and use mild soap and water with a soft bristle brush to remove dirt and grime. Clean both sides of the screen and around the interior and exterior of the frame. Rinse off the unit with lukewarm water. Allow the screen to dry completely before replacing in the window.

Never pressure wash screens or windows because the force of the water may damage the units. Use extreme care when cleaning aluminum mesh, since it can be dented or creased if too much. pressure is placed on the screen.

Maintaining Window Screens: 

While most window screens may remain in the windows year-round, some homeowners prefer to store screens during winter months. If you choose to remove your window screens, make certain to store them either in an upright or flat position. Covering them with plastic or a sheet will keep them clean while in storage. And, make sure nothing sits on top of (or leans against) the screens to eliminate the chance of bending of the frames or poking a hole in the screens.

If a small hole or tear does occur in your screen, patch kits are available in most hardware and home stores. Homeowners unhappy with the look of a patch (or who have a large gash in their screen) may choose to get the screen mesh replaced on the entire unit. Many cities have screen repair services where you can take your screen frame and have new mesh added to replace torn mesh.

Window Screen Safety:

Screens are not meant for animals or children to lean up against. Screens can be damaged or pop out if a child or animal pushes against them with enough force. Never consider a screen a safety feature in the home … they’re available only to allow in the flow of air, not to restrict anything of force. Another safety tip for the home is not to place cribs or furniture directly under a window. Children can climb and push out on the screens when the windows are open, resulting in a potential fall.

Window screens are terrific for ventilating the house and keeping insects outside, but that’s all they’re intended to do. Maintain their screens regularly and make sure to keep the bottom sash of windows closed when children and pets are around to prevent potential problems.

Looking for FREE advice on home improvement, home maintenance and remodeling, click below:

Choose the Perfect Gate for Your Home-Home improvement advice

Choose the Perfect Gate for Your Home

Are you planning a home-remodeling project? Do you have a garden in front of your home? Then, the one thing that you must include is a gate. It not only ensures the safety and security of your house, but also enhances the beauty. Gates have enamored us for a long time. A mansion with an imposing gate in front of it has never failed to impress us.

There are several kinds of gates available. The two basic models are slide gates and swing gates. If you can manage the space in front of your home, then the swing gates are a good option. A swing gate is something that comes to our minds when we think of gates. But, if you do not have the space then a slide gate is a good option too. They are very good if your home is of a modern design. The swing gates have fewer mechanisms compared to a slide gate and so they are expected to develop fewer glitches in them.

The gates can be made out of various kinds of materials. They include, wrought iron, wooden picket, vinyl, etc. the material that you choose will depend on the kind of climate you have round the year, the maintenance cost and the safety that it will provide. The most popular are wood and iron.

They can either be simple or ornate. Simple gates are of course easy to maintain and they are cheap. Also, if you are installing a simple wooden swing gate then you can do it yourself on a weekend. Gates with complicated patterns on them look very grand and add to the beauty of the house. But, you have to work really hard to keep them clean. Besides, they must be compatible with the house and the gate of your neighbors, if any. A grand, imposing gate in a row of simpler ones looks very odd.

If you have seen a spy movies or a horror movie, a gate opening by itself is something that must have attracted you. You can also have a gate like that at your home that opens automatically. A manual gate has to be opened either by you or by your guests. Also, it becomes difficult sometimes to open the gate. In such cases an automatic gate is very helpful. They provide better security than the manual ones as they are not so easy to break-in. they also provide you with the added facility of installing a burglar alarm that you can activate at night or when you are not at home.

There are several kinds of automatic gates and you must consult an expert before you invest in one. The perfect kind of electric gates Surrey home owners should install depends on the owner’s needs and affordability.

Author's Bio:

The author Eve Warner has a deep interest in home remodeling. She has written many blogs on the same. Here, she shares some tips about installing http://www.geminigates.co.uk/electric gates Surrey residents will find helpful.

 

Content hosted by Gettum Associates Inc, award winning design and remodel contractors

Gettum Associates, Inc., an Indianapolis home remodeling contractor, likes to feature content from other service provider's from time to time. Let us know if you have a topic you would like to see featured!

Clothes dryer fire safety-Indianapolis home advice

Dryer vent Safety-Indianapolis home advice

Cleaning your lint trap after every dryer load is an important step to limit the danger of fire and extend the life of your clothes dryer

If your like most households with children you do countless loads of laundry each week.  It is easy to take our washing machines and dryers for granted. These appliances are not seen as luxury, but rather a necessity for many. 

However, many do not realize there is a hidden hazard lurking in the laundry areas of our homes and that is our clothes dryer.  According to the Topical Fire Research Series, published by FEMA, "Clothes dryer fires account for about 15,600 structure fires, 15 deaths, and 400 injuries annually." The bulletin goes on to add that “Failure to clean” is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential buildings" (source).  So, with good reason, there are a number of precautions to take as well as routine inspection to ensure safe function of one of our hardest working household appliances.(photo above by americandryerventcleaning.com

So, what causes lint in a dryer vent duct system? The short answer to that question is when lint gets trapped, it blocks airflow. When airflow gets restricted, heat build-up and ultimately overheating can occur. This heat can ignite both the lint within the ductwork and can spread to the clothing within the dryer.

Beyond the fire hazard the average clothes dryer poses to our homes, most are operating well below their optimum efficiency. So, most of the same steps you can take to reduce the risk of disaster are the same things you can do to reduce drying time and increase the life of your clothes dryer.  Keep reading to find tips on dryer venting, what problem areas to look for, and how to keep your dryer safe and clean.  This information is brought to you by Gettum Associates Inc, Indianapolis area remodel contractors and home experts. You can get advice to your home improvement and household questions on our "E-mail the home expert" page.

Tips on dryer venting:

1. It is best to use rigid metal duct work, rather than flexible duct work, especially for ducting that is concealed within walls and in the attic. The only acceptable use for flexible duct work is the small length between the rigid duct and the dryer (ex. from the wall to the dryer). Reason: Flexible duct work contains "ridges" that add friction that can grab and trap lint. If you must use flexible duct work, please choose metal flex duct over plastic duct work.

2. Rigid duct work should be installed so that the connections between two pieces of duct work are oriented with the "male" end pointing towards the direction of airflow.  Reason: If this connection is reversed, the crimped male end will collect lint and lead to build-up.

3. Use "foil tape" NOT duct tape to seal duct joints. Duct tape will eventually dry out and fail. Also, DO NOT use screws or rivets to connect duct work. Screws or other fasteners will also collect lint.

4. Keep the overall duct length less than 25' as recommended by the IRC (International Residential Code). Here is what the IRC says about dryer duct vent length: M1502.6 Duct length:The maximum length of a clothes dryer exhaust duct shall not exceed 25 feet (7,620 mm) from the dryer location to the wall or roof termination. The maximum length of the duct shall be reduced 2.5 feet (762 mm) for each 45-degree (0.8 rad) bend, and 5 feet (1,524 mm) for each 90-degree (1.6 rad) bend. The maximum length of the exhaust duct does not include the transition duct.

5. Check out the termination (end of the dryer duct and hopefully a termination cap). Your dryer SHOULD NOT vent into a crawlspace or an attic!!  Again, we can reference the IRC for the proper termination of a dryer vent duct:  M1502.2 Duct termination:  Exhaust ducts shall terminate on the outside of the building or shall be in accordance with the dryer manufacturer’s installation instructions. Exhaust ducts shall terminate not less than 3 feet (914 mm) in any direction from openings into buildings. Exhaust duct terminations shall be equipped with a backdraft damper. Screens shall not be installed at the duct termination.  Inspectors will see many dryer vents terminate in crawlspaces or attics where they deposit moisture, which can encourage the growth of mold, wood decay, or other material problems. Sometimes they will terminate just beneath attic ventilators. This is a defective installation. They must terminate at the exterior and away from a door or window! Also, screens may be present at the duct termination and can accumulate lint and should be noted as improper.

6. The dryer vent duct should be independent from any other duct system (i.e. chimney, water heater, furnace, etc.) This should go without saying.

 Tips on keeping your dryer vent and duct work clean:

1. First, the easiest way to keep your dryer and duct work clean and working at optimal efficiency is to clean the lint trap screen each and every time. Also, be sure to check pant pockets coming out of the dryer for lint. Remove and discard.

2. You should routinely inspect the connection from the back of the dryer to the wall. Make sure the duct work is not crushed and remember a gentle bend is acceptable but avoid sharp turns which can trap lint and ultimately block air flow.

3. You should routinely disconnect, inspect and clean out the connection between the back of the dryer and the wall. This is the first place lint will collect and can be a major "choking" point of air flow.

4. You should have your entire dryer vent duct system inspected and cleaned once per year for average laundry use. Consult the phone book or do an online search to find someone qualified and local to your area.

The information above is not intended to scare, rather it is to inform. Ultimately, this knowledge will keep you and your family safe and your clothes dryer working efficiently for years to come. If you should have any other questions relevant to home maintenance, remodeling and home improvement, please click below: